There’s a fire in the neonatal unit! What are you going to do? (13 March 2024)

Summary

A fire at the University Hospital of Leicester in 2023 led to the recommendation of a full evacuation of the tertiary neonatal unit. The incident was ultimately stood down—however, it highlighted the lack of inter-agency understanding regarding the difficulty and complexity of moving critically unwell and premature babies in the event of a major incident. In response, the Leicester Royal Infirmary and other agencies staged a simulation exercise to enable teams to prepare for possible future incidents. This HSJ article describes the simulation exercise and the lessons it revealed about managing neonatal unit evacuations during major incidents. It highlights key learnings around the two themes of communication and estates.